Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez, Adam Liberatore suffer unkindest of cuts

Enrique Hernandez, playing center field for the Dodgers during an exhibition game on March 15, robs the Seattle Mariners' Mike Zunino of an extra-base hit.

Enrique Hernandez, playing center field for the Dodgers during an exhibition game on March 15, robs the Seattle Mariners' Mike Zunino of an extra-base hit. (Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press)

Steve Dilbeck

Dodgers send reliever Adam Liberatore and utility man Enrique Hernandez to minors but both could be back soon

None of the cuts are easy when it gets down to the final weekend of spring training, but a couple had to be particularly tough for the Dodgers on Saturday.

There was really nothing more left-hander Adam Liberatore could have done to make the team. All he did was go unscored upon in 11 appearances. He gave up only four hits in his 10 1/3 innings, not walking a batter and striking out nine.

And then there was utility man Enrique Hernandez, who after starting the spring hitless in his first 13 at-bats, finished going 16 for 47 with six home runs to tie for team high.

“As we were kind of struggling with the decisions and having the debate, we talked about what a good problem it was to have. We feel strongly we sent down some major-league players,” said Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations. “And the sign of a good team is when you have the depth to do that. We’re excited about the 25 guys we’re going to open with on Monday, but we also know that it extends well beyond the 25.”

Which can’t make the decision a whole lot easier for Hernandez and Liberatore.

“They wanted me to play every day,” Hernandez said. “I’ll go down there, play every day and do my thing.”